Blankets with multiple panels of varying warmth characteristics



E. R. T. MARQUETTE 3,508,285

BLANKET WITH MULTIFLE PANELS OF VARYING WARMTH CHARACTERISTICS April 28, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1968 Fig. 4

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BLANKET WITH MULTIPLE PANELS OF VARYING WARMTH CHARACTERISTICS Filed Jan. 10, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR amemaxxams United States Patent Int. Cl. A47g 9/00 US. Cl. -334 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A blanket for a bed provided with multiple panels of different warmth characteristics oriented in edge to edge relation at the center of the bed to enable the panels forming the blanket to have different warmth characteristics to satisfy the warmth requirements of the occupants of the bed which are covered by the panels. One half of the blanket may be constructed of a plurality of panel-s of different warmth characteristics with the multiple panels being secured together by a stitching assembly or secured together by a detachable fastening assembly to enable the panels to be separated from each other and assembled in a selected arrangement so that the half panels may have the desired warmth characteristics to satisfy the requirements of the individual occupants of the bed.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 680,916 filed Nov. 6, 1967, for Blanket with Interchangeable Halves.

The present invention generally relates to a blanket construction for a double bed incorporating a multiple of panels, each forming a half panel, in which the panels have different warmth characteristics for satisfying the warmth requirements of the two occupants of a double bed so that both occupants may have optimum conditions of comfort while sleeping.

As exemplified in my prior Patent No. 3,331,088, issued July 18, 1967, and the copending application mentioned above, there has been provided blanket structures in which additive panels may be mounted on an underlying blanket so that the elfective warmth characteristics of one half of the blanket may be varied in order that the warmth requirements of the two occupants of a double bed may be satisfied and also there have been provided blankets with two interconnected and interchangeable panels joined together by a fastener such as a zipper along the centerline of the blanket. The present invention includes the provision of a blanket constructed of half panels in which at least one half panel is provided with a multiple of panels in order to enable the warmth characteristics thereof to be varied by selecting the warmth characteristics of each of the half panels when they are assembled into a double blanket.

In one embodiment of the invention, the panels are separably interconnected by a fastener assembly such as a commercially available material Velcro which basically includes cooperating strips of woven nylon fabric with one strip having loops formed thereon and the other strip having hooks formed thereon which adhere to each other when pressed together and which may be pulled apart. This type of fastening material is disclosed in Patent No. 2,717,437, issued Sept. 13, 1955.

In another embodiment of the invention, the multiple panels forming a one half panel and the single panel forming the other one half panel are interconnected by a longitudinally continuous tape or strip of fabric material secured to the connected panels as by stitching thus form- 3,508,285 Patented Apr. 28, 1970 ing a permanently connected arrangement which may be initially selected from a group of half panels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a blanket construction especially adapted to be used on a double bed normally receiving two occupants having different warmth requirements with the blanket including half panels having different warmth characteristics for effectively satisfying the warmth requirements of the occupants of the bed. The half panels are constructed With at least one of the half panels including a multiple of panels to provide the difference in warmth characteristics. The blanket is relatively simple in construction and may be assembled in a very simple manner either permanently or with commercially available fastening devices with each individual thus being able to select half panels for arrangement in an assembly capable of satisfying the particular warmth requirements.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the blanket of the present invention illustrated in use on a double bed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 22 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the relationship of the blanket panels and the fastening assembly;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded group perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the three panels employed in the assembly of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which the panels are secured together by stitching; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of FIG. 5 illustrating the structural details of this embodiment of this invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the blanket of the present invention which is illustrated in association with a bed of conventional construction generally designated by the numeral 12 and including the usual supporting legs or supporting structure 14, mattress and spring assembly 16 and headboard 18. The blanket 10 is adapted to be associated with the bed in the usual and conventional manner with the blanket including two half panels 20 and 22 each of which forms substantially one half of the total blanket area and each of which is adapted to cover an occupant of the bed. The juncture area between the half panels 20 and 22 extends along the centerline of the blanket 10 and along with centerline of the bed and is generally designated by the numeral 24 in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the half panel 20 includes a pair of half panels 26 and 28 in superimposed relation to each other while the half panel 22 includes only a single panel 30. All of the panels 26, 28 and 30 are constructed of flexible fabric material such as normally employed in blanket constructions and the particular material from which the panels are construction forms no particular part of the present invention.

Attached to each of the panels 26, 28 and 30 is a strip of fastening material in the form of Velcro which strips are designated by numerals 32, 34 and 36. The strips 32, 34 and 36 are known as the female or fleecy component of the Velco material and is relatively soft in that it includes the loop component of the fastening assembly.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the strips 32, 34 and 36 are relatively narrow-and slightly elongated and are orientated in longitudinally spaced relation along the edges of the panels 26, 28 and 30 with the strips being secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by stitching, bonding or the like.

For securing the panels together, a plurality of connecting strips or tapes 38 are provided with each strip 38 being relatively elongated and approximately the same width as the strips 32, 34 and 36. The tape 38 includes the .male component of the Velcro fastener and includes a plurality of hooks which provides a relatively rough or hard surface. The strip 38 is flexible and has a length at least equal to the aggregate length of a pair of strips 32 and 36 for example. In actual practice, the strip 38 may be slightly longer than a pair of strips 32 and 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the strip 38 is pressed onto the strip 36 and completely overlies and engages the strip 36. The edge of the panels 26 and 30 are arranged in abutting relation with a portion of the central area of the strip 38 being pressed onto and fastened to the edge of the strip 32 adjacent the panel 30. The remainder of the strip 38 then overlies and engages the strip 34 on the panel 28 then overlies and engages the strip 34 on the panel 28 thus serving to secure the panels 26 and 30 together and also secure the panel 28 to the panel 26 and to the panel 30 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2.

In assembling the panels, a user will select the panels in accordance with the warmth requirements. For example, one occupant may only require a single panel such as the panel 30 while the other occupant may require two panels such as the panels 26 and 28. After selection of the panels which may be identified as to warmth characteristics by any suitable means, the panels 26 and 30 are placed on a flat surface in edge-to-edge relationship with the tapes 36 and 32 oriented in aligned position. If the panel 28 is to be used it is then placed in overlying relation to the panel 26 with the tapes 34 thereon in alignment with the tapes or strips 32. Then, the connecting strips 38 are placed across each group of aligned strips in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 and also in FIG. 2. This assembles the panels 26 and 30 and also assembles the panel 28 in overlying relation to the panel 26 and just outwardly of the outer ends of the strips 32 although, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a portion of the strips 32 may be covered by the inner edge of the panel 28. The entire assembly is then inverted so that the connecting tapes 38 and the strips 32, 34 and 36 will be oriented downwardly against the usually provided top sheet. This provides a neat appearance to the upper surface of the blanket and eliminates entanglement of the fastening devices with the hands, feet or other portions of the occupants covered by the blanket.

With the assembly as disclosed, a purchaser may obtain a plurality of panels having different warmth requirements and select the particular half panels that he desires in order to properly keep him warm. The other occupant of the bed will do likewise and when the appropriate panels have been selected, they will be connected in the manner disclosed. Thus, each half panel may constitute a single panel or multiple panels with it usually being arranged with at least one half of the blanket being constructed from a multiple of panels.

In the construction of FIGS. 5 and 6, the blanket is generally designated by the numeral 40 and includes a pair of half blankets 42 and 44 in which the half blanket or panel 42 is constructed from a pair of panels 46 and 48 while the half blanket or half panel 44 is constructed from a single panel 50 with the section of the panels being conducted in the same manner as in the device illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

For securing the adjacent edges of the panels together, a pair of tapes or finishing material '52 and 54 are joined together by a line of stitching 56 at the center thereof thus forming two outwardly opening channels for receiving the outer edges of the panels 46 and 48 at One side thereof and the inner edge of the panel 50 at the other side thereof. After the panels and tapes have been assembled, they are secured in place by stitching 58 thus enabling a blanket to be constructed with at least one half of the blanket including a multiple of panels with the panels all being permanently secured together for retaining them more readily in assembled condition and enabling the blanket to be more easily launderable and easier to arrange on the bed after it has been initially constructed so that the stitching 58 serves to permanently interconnect the panels defining the blanket.

With the two embodiments of the present invention each individual user may, by purchasing a predetermined number of panels, select the panels required for satisfying the warmth requirement of the individual occupants of the bed and assemble these panels in a simple and convenient manner. The panels may be either provided with the strips already thereon or the Velcro may be separately purchased and employed. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the connecting tape may be provided along with the panels or the connecting tape or edging material may be separately purchased and assembled with the blanket. In both forms of the invention, assembly is relatively simple with the fastening assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 enabling not only easy assembly but disassembly for reassembling panels of different warmth characteristics in the event this becomes desirable.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A blanket comprising a flexible panel adapted to cover two occupants of a double bed and including two half panels having a connecting area extending along the centerline of the blanket and bed, each of the half panels having predetermined warmth characteristics to satisfy the warmth requirements of the occupant covered by the respective half panels, one of said half panels including a multiple of superimposed panels, means securing adjacent edges of the half panels together, said means including a flexible strip means attached to each of the half panels and bridging the juncture therebetween, said half panels having their adjacent edges in close adjacent relation, said strip means being relatively narrow in relation to the width of the half panels and including edges disposed adjacent edges of the half panels.

2. A blanket comprising a flexible panel adapted to cover two occupants of a double bed and including two half panels having a connecting area extending along the centerline of the blanket and bed, each of the half panels having predetermined warmth characteristics to satisfy the warmth requirements of the occupant covered by the respective half panels, one of said half panels including a multiple of superimposed panels, means securing adjacent edges of the half panels together, said means including a flexible strip attached to each of the half panels and bridging the juncture therebetween, said strip being longitudinally elongated and extending from end to end of the half panels, the opposed edges of said strip being stitched to the half panels, and a matching strip attached to the half panels on the opposite side of the blanket to provide a finished appearance to both surfaces of the blanket.

3. A blanket comprising a flexible panel adapted to cover two occupants of a double bed and including two half panels having a connecting area extending along the centerline of the blanket and bed, each of the half panels having predetermined warmth characteristics to satisfy the warmth requirements of the occupant covered by the respective half panels, one of said half panels including a multiple of superimposed panels, means securing adjacent edges of the half panels together, said means including a flexible strip means attached to each of the half panels and bridging the juncture therebetween, said strip means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced connecting strips, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced fastening strips attached to the half panels, said strips having interengaging fastening means on facing surfaces thereof whereby the half panels will be connected together when the strips are pressed together.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each of the multiple panels in the multiple half panel is provided with longitudinally spaced fastening strips thereon each having fastening means on its face for engagement with the connecting strips pressed thereagainst thereby connecting the multiple of panels together with the same connecting strips as the half panels are connected with.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein said fastening strips attached to the half panels are disposed at the side edge thereof, said interengaging fastening References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/ 1963 Quenneville 5334 XR 7/ 1967 Marquette 5334 BOBBY R. GRAY, Primary Examiner A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 5347 

